emodel.com / Options Talent Group

How Do They Get Away With It?

Disclaimer

Options Talent uses a disclaimer. They say they cannot guarantee modeling jobs or contracts will result from use of their services. It is illegal to guarantee modeling jobs or work in some states if you are not licenced.

Definition

They say they are not a modeling agency.

Options is not an agency so we will not book you directly. We do not form any “special” relationships with agencies, nor do we have legal affiliation with any agencies.

The modeling industry is not federally regulated. Regulations are at the state level, and not all states have the same regulations, but in some states, such as Texas, a modeling agency has to be licensed or bonded. Options Talent is not a modeling agency, it is a scouting company, so it does not have to be licensed or bonded.

Name Change

emodel changed its name or suddenly became Options Talent when emodel's reputation was very bad and calls for class action lawsuits and legal action intensified.

A name change confuses some people and leaves others doubting if legal action is still an option.

Potential clients who check the new name at the Better Business Bureau may not notice or read the files of the company under its previous name, and it could take weeks or months before complaints are filed and stack up under the new name.

Potential clients and their parents who were conducting research online to read complaints, etc., about the new company found little or nothing until search engines were updated (2-6 weeks after indexing).

The new Options Talent website makes little or no reference at all (only one page seen so far) to emodel, the previous company name.

One report said emodel had used monster.com after being banned from listing "jobs" at the website, but now Options Talent Group has listed jobs there.

A new report from an Options Talent model scout says the job ads are misleading, and the claims are there to lure people to an interview for work on commission, even though the ad implies jobs with salary.

Options Talent posted a company profile at Monster.com but they did not say they used to be known as emodel.com.

All that would enable Options Talent to stop or delay being banned from a website that recruits new "model scouts."

Terminology

Options Talent can and does use phrases like "model scout" and "talent executive" very loosely, because there is no degree required, no certification necessary to claim the titles.

Reports indicate most if not all Options Talent model scouts have no formal training, and what they do have is extremely short, and the training itself is not conducted by modeling industry experts.

Independent Contractors

Options Talent gets model scouts classified as "independent contractors." Therefore they are not subject to certain labor laws, because they are not employees. They can effectively get work at rates equivalent to less than minimum wages or even free labor. They can get people working overtime without extra pay. They can effectively terminate people who work for them without getting a wrongful dismissal lawsuit.

"Using independent contractors can save you a bundle in payroll taxes, health insurance costs, workers' compensation premiums and overtime pay. But the rules about who qualifies are complicated, and the IRS and state revenue agencies keep a close eye on businesses that hire independent contractors. Misclassifying a worker can result in serious financial penalties in a state or federal audit." [SOURCE]

Advertising

Options Talent uses statistical information to reflect their success rate which is not substantiated, and has not been independently verified, but at the same time it cannot be refuted, to the extent that outside investigators have not been allowed to review the records. No subpoena has been issued. How can potential clients argue over data they cannot check?

Celebrities

Options Talent uses the names and images of celebrities in their Advisory Board page. Unlike modeling agencies which can be contacted quickly and easily to verify if they are affiliated with Options Talent, it is much more difficult and slow to verify associations of celebrities.

Most people know how to contact modeling agencies, since they know the name and can find their numbers listed in a directory. But celebrities are unlisted, and many people would not know where to start to get in contact with them.